Ukraine has appealed to the International Maritime Organization following systematic Russian attacks on 52 civilian vessels in the Black Sea during July and August 2026.
Ukraine's Ministry for Restoration, Infrastructure and Transport confirmed that Minister Mykola Kalashnyk sent an official appeal to IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco detailing the sharp escalation in maritime security risks. The IMO secretariat distributed the document to all member states, intergovernmental organisations and non-governmental bodies holding consultative status with the UN shipping agency.
According to the Ukrainian government, Russian forces targeted 52 commercial ships in the six-week period between July and mid-August. Some vessels were struck while carrying food and commercial cargoes to or from Ukrainian ports, while others were attacked while berthed at dockside facilities.
The ministry warned that continued military escalation threatens the operation of the Ukrainian Maritime Corridor. The shipping route along the western Black Sea coast has handled more than 27 million tonnes of food exports since the beginning of 2026, with grain destined for over 55 countries making up more than half of the total volume.
Kalashnyk said the strikes were not isolated incidents. He stated that daily Russian attacks on civilian vessels and port infrastructure pose a direct threat to merchant shipping, international supply chains and global food security.
Attacks on Commercial Vessels
The official appeal outlined a series of specific strikes on merchant shipping in Ukrainian ports and territorial waters during July and August. On 13 July, the Togo-flagged vessel AIDA was attacked while unloading mineral fertilisers at the port of Pivdennyi, killing three crew members and injuring five others.
Targeted strikes continued the following day across the region. On 14 July, an attack on the Tanzania-flagged vessel ATLAS BEY in the port of Odesa killed the ship's captain and injured three crew members. On the same day, an attack on the vessel AROSA at the port of Chornomorsk killed one crew member and a port worker.
Heavy casualties occurred on 19 July when the bulk carrier GOLDEN LEO was struck while departing the port of Chornomorsk with more than 6,000 tonnes of corn aboard. Nine of the vessel's 17 crew members and a maritime pilot were killed, while two sailors sustained injuries. The damaged ship subsequently sank on 26 July.
Attacks continued into August, targeting both heavy cargo carriers and grain ships. On 5 August, the cargo vessel EMIL, carrying 173,000 tonnes of iron ore, came under repeated attack from drone systems while navigating the Ukrainian Maritime Corridor. A severe fire broke out on board, rendering the ship unseaworthy.
On the same day, the vessel MERA QUEEN was struck while carrying almost 5,000 tonnes of wheat from Odesa. Structural hull damage caused by the strike resulted in the death of a Ukrainian crew member.
Total Damage and Casualties
The recent strikes form part of a broader pattern of destruction targeting Ukraine's maritime sector. Ukrainian official data shows that 1,090 port infrastructure facilities and 262 commercial vessels have been damaged or partially destroyed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion. A total of 329 civilians have been killed or injured in attacks on maritime assets during the conflict.
Ukrainian officials reported that July 2026 marked the beginning of a new phase in Russia's naval blockade. Mass shelling directed at port facilities and merchant shipping across Greater Odesa forced a complete halt to commercial ship arrivals. Railroad transport of grain to Black Sea ports also recorded a sharp decline.
The deepwater ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi, which comprise the Greater Odesa port cluster, serve as the primary conduits for Ukraine's bulk agricultural exports to international markets.
Impact on Grain Export Routes
Following the surge in attacks, Ukraine accused Russia of attempting to transform the Black Sea into another Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz, located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is a critical international maritime transit point where shipping disruptions frequently threaten global trade.
In response to the naval blockade, the Ministry of Infrastructure stated that Ukraine will once again rely on European Solidarity Lanes to maintain export volumes. The European Union established the Solidarity Lanes framework in 2022 to facilitate alternative land, rail and river transport routes for Ukrainian goods.
Russian strikes have forced Ukraine to reroute a significant portion of its grain shipments through neighboring Romania. However, logistics officials noted that low water levels and seasonal shoaling on the Danube River are restricting the operational capacity of river transport routes, creating further bottlenecks for Ukrainian grain exports.
